Saturday, November 30th, 10:05 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Reese Court (6,000) -- Cheney, Washington. Television: None. Home Record UCI 0-2, EWU 2-0. Away Record UCI 0-2, EWU 1-2. Neutral Record UCI 0-0, EWU 0-0. Conference Record UCI 0-0, EWU 0-0. Series Record: UC Irvine leads, 3-2.

GAME NOTES: Still searching for their first victory of the season, the UC Irvine Anteaters square off against the Eastern Washington Eagles for the second time this month. It has been a tough start to the new year for the Anteaters, who come into tonight's contest winless in four tries. The last time UCI was on the court the team suffered an embarrassing 101-47 setback to Idaho. The Anteaters will remain on the road for their next two matchups and will not return home until December 16th when they host Seattle. As for the Eagles, they had their wings clipped the last time they took the floor, falling to Minnesota in an 88-67 final. The loss snapped a three-game win streak for EWU. The Eagles, who are 2-0 at home this season, posted an 8-5 ledger at Reese Court last year. Back on November 19th, the Eagles claimed a 74-69 victory over the Anteaters in Irvine. Despite the loss, UCI still holds a 3-2 edge in the all-time series.

Not much has gone right for the Anteaters thus far. UC Irvine is currently surrendering 84.2 ppg, while allowing the opposition to shoot 55.1 percent from the floor. Unfortunately, the team has been just as bad at the other end of the court, netting a mere 62.0 ppg behind only 39.1 percent from the field. Kevin Bland has been the main scoring threat for the Anteaters, and comes into this game averaging 11.3 ppg. Eric Wise is the only other player averaging double figures for UCI, as the guard is posting 10.5 ppg despite shooting 39.4 percent. In the recent loss to Idaho, the Anteaters were blown out of the gym, yielding 101 points. Meanwhile, the team did not crack 50 points at the offensive end, shooting a paltry 26.3 percent from the floor, which included a 6-of-21 showing from long range. Brett Lauer was the only player to reach double figures, as the guard tallied 12 points off the bench. As for Wise and Bland, they combined for just nine points.

The Eagles have not been much better offensively when compared to their counterpart in this one, as the team is averaging just 66.6 ppg despite shooting a commendable 43.8 percent from the floor. EWU has relied heavily on the play of guard Benny Valentine, who comes into this clash averaging 20.2 ppg. Brandon Moore has been the best option in the paint for the Eagles, as the big man is netting 13.0 ppg to go with his team-high 7.8 rpg. The last time EWU was on the floor, it was no match for Minnesota, scoring just 67 points in the 21-point setback. Once again Valentine did the majority of the damage for Eastern Washington, pouring in a game-high 29 points. As for Moore, he was consistent as always, netting 13 points and grabbing nine boards.

The Anteaters have been dreadful to start the year, and while Eastern Washington has not been spectacular, the Eagles have already defeated UCI on its own floor, so it should be no trouble winning at home.

Predicted Outcome

Eastern Washington 69, UC Irvine 56